Electric-lighting system for cars.



I. L CBEVELING. ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR CARS.

APPLICATION- FILED MAY 28 1908.

1,145,4L68.v4 l Patented July 6,1915

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

IIIII I I I II' II n lli-Wl' I IIIIIIl lIII lIIIIII` I I "Qx Il I l9A/5885s.' I t /NI/f/vrof? 1, L. CREVELING. l ELECTRIC LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR CARS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 190B.

LMAS, Patented July 6, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- I .TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA sr PATENT OFFICE.

JN L. CREVELING, F NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 SAFETY CAB HEATING LIGHTING COMPANY, A GORPOEATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRICLIGHTING SYSTEM FOR CARS.

Speciication of Iietters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1915.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOHN L. CREvnLING, of New York, in the county of New York and State of `New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electric-Lighting Systems for Cars as set forth in the annexed specification and drawing, forming a part thereof.

My invention pertains to that class of electric lighting systems for cars or other moving vehicles in which current 'is produced by a generator carried by the car and driven by motion derived by the motion of said car, and a storage battery is used to furnish current when the car is running at a low speed or standing.

The principal object of my invention is to i provide a lsystem having means whereby the generator may be so driven by the motion of the car that when it shall be delivering a predetermined output further increase in the speed of the car will not cause a corresponding increase in the output delivered by the generator, but the energy so delivered will remain practically constant within reasonable limitsof speed. I also provide means whereby when the batteries shall have be? come suiliciently charged that their voltage shall have increased beyond certain limits resistance will be automatically inserted in the lamp or translating circuit to compensate for such rise in voltage of the batteries.

In the drawing Figure I shows a general view of the generator and driving mechanism and a diagrammatic view of the remainder of my improved lighting system. Fig. II shows a section of one form of driving pulley mechanism comprehending means whereby 4the generator output 1s held constant within certain limits. Fig. III shows a section of another form of such driving mechanism.

Like numbers in the several figures are used to indicateY like parts.

In Fig. I (1) represents an ordinary car wheel and (2)4V the ordinary axle thereof, upon which is mounted the driving pulley (3) by the side ofwhich are placed the idlers (4)A in a manner as shown and described in a patent to me #691359 of J anuary 21st, 1902. y

(5) represents a generatorl sus ended from the lower side of the car floor irectly over the axle (2). This generator is pro- A vided with driving pulleys (6) carried by the rods (7) and arranged in such manner that when they are driven in opposite directionsone of the ulleys (6) en ages the armature shaft and) the other ul ey (6) runs idle and if their directions e reversed the other one willv engage the shaft and its opposite will run idle, then if properly connected to the axle the armature may be driven in a constant direction regardless of the direction of the motion of the car. The construction of this type of generator is clearly set forth in Patents #709,848 granted to me Sept. 23, 1902, and #721,025 granted to me Feb. 17, 1903.

An endless belt 8)- is looped over one of the pulleys (6) an assed around the driving pulley (3) an idlers (4) and then looped over the other pulley (6) so as tc opleratively connect the generator with the ax e.

In my prior patents above referred to the' generator 5 produces a reversible, intermittent, and variable current, by reason of the fact that the pulleys 6 are so connected with the axis of the armature that the direction of motion of the car connects the proper clutch g, la, and that clutch, together with the actlon of its spring o upon the parts p and m, always impart to the armature motion in the same direction, the pulley at the other end of the armature running idle, as fully disclosed in said patents.

The lead (9) is brought from one terminal of the generator to one side of the storage battery (10) and thence to one terminal of the lamp switch indicated at (11) from the other terminal 'of which leads the wire (12) to the lamps or other translating devices indicated at (13). The other generator lead is brought to one terminal of an automatic switch diagrammatically indi cated and this switch 15 is controlled automatically by an electromagnet connected to the circuit of the generator in a manner well understood by those versed in the use of automatic switches `of this kind. The function of the switch is to close the circuit when the voltage of the generator rises to the voltage of the battery and to open `the' circuit when its voltage falls a little below that of the battery.

A switch well adapted to be used in this system is shown and described in Patent #7077 63 granted tome on August26, 1902. From-'the other side of this switch is led 'the wire (16) to' one terminal (17 of the resistance device (18) from` the other terminal (19) of which the-wire (20) leads to one terminal of the resistance device (21) from the other terminal of which the wire y (22) leads to the remaining terminals of the lamps or other translating devices, (13). The resistance device or regulator (18) comprehends the contact member (23) the position of resistance (2 4) that shall be inserted be tween terminals (17) and (19) n series with the lamp circuit. This movable contact is attached `to the core (53) of the solenoid (54) which is in shunt across the battery as by wires (55) and (56) and current in the said solenoid tends to raise the core (53) against the tension of the spring (57) which is adjustable bythe means of screw (58).

' The resistance device (21) is an ordinary manually operated device which may be used to insert more or less resistance (25 inseries with the lamps as may be desire In Fi II (2) represents the caraxle,

(3) the riving pulley (4) one of the idlers land (8) the drivingbelt as shown in Fi I. V'The pulley (3) is provided with a hu so (26 revolubly mounted upon the sleeve (27 fixed upon the axle. The web (28) of the pulley (3) '1s provided with perforations which engage the webs (29) of the annular shoes (30) which face the annular shoes 85 (31) provided with the webs (32) which ena e perforations in iange (33) carried by the hub (34) which is keyed as by the key (35) upon the sleeve (27) in such manner that it revolves with the said sleeve, and is free to move laterally upon the same. The compression spring (36) adjustable as by the nut (37) engaging the screw portion (38) of the sleeve (27) serves to hold the `faces of the annular shoes (30) and (31) in close adjustable contact and to force the hub (26) against the ball bearing as indicated at (39). Y

In Fig. III (2) represents the car axle, (3) the pulley as shown in Figs. I and II. The sleeve (27) in this instance is provided with flange (40) the perforations of which receive the webs (41) attached to the annular shoe (42) against which is pressed the shoe (5 9) provided with webs (43) engaging the web portion (45) of the pulley (3) having a hub portion (44). The webs (46) engage the openings in the web (45) and carry the annular shoe (47). against which presses the annular shoe (4 8) provided with webs 5 (49) engaging openings in the flange (50) which by means orf'spokes (51) is connected to hub (52) which hub (52) is keyed upon y the sleeve (27) in such manner that it revolves therewith and that it may slide laterally thereon. The spring (36) adjustable which determines the amount of and between shoes by new friction pulleys (6) as by the nut (37) upon the thread (3.8) presses the shoe (48) against the shoe (47) and in this way moves the entire pulley in such manner that theshoe (59) is pressed against shoe (42) which is held from movement by the'web (40).

In Figs. II and III sleeves (27) are fixed rigidly upon the axles (2) and it is obvious that the pulley (3) in Fig. 1I may be revolved without moving axle (2) provided suiiicient torque be applied to overcome the friction between the shoes (30) and (31) caused by the pressure exerted through the A iniuence of spring (36), neglecting bearing friction, etc. Also pulley (3) in Fig. III can vbe revolved without 'revolving the axle if suicient torquebe exerted to overcome the friction between shoes (42) and (59)` (47 and (4.8) if bearing friction be neglected.

To facilitate application.' upon the car axle' the sleeve (27) may be split as also the pulley (3) and all the other annular parts designed to encircle the axle. arrangement it is obviously a very simple matter to separate the members carrying the friction shoes and move the shoes sufficiently that their radiating webs or projections disengage their supporting member so that they maybe readily removed` and replaced nij'mbers or shoes which in fact are the wearing ear. i 'v The operation of my improved system of electric lighting is substantially as follows: Starting with the generator at rest and the 'various devices in the positions vindicated in the drawing, if the car be started the wheel (1)- will revolve as will the axle (2) and pulley (3), and by means of belt (8) transmit motion tothe armature of the generator through the instrumentality of the which as before described are soarranged that the motion of` thearmature will be in uniform direction regardless of the direction of the rotation of the pulley (3).

When the generator shall have.` reached such a speed that its voltage shall be equal to that of the battery (10) the switch (15) will close and as soon as the generator voltage is in excess of that `of the battery a current will flow through the lead (9) battery (10) switch (15) and lead (14) back to the generator., small -current also flows through the fine winding of thesolenoid' (54) which is connected across the battery mains by wires (55) and (56),-and the cur-.- rent tends to cause the solenoids (54) to raise its core (53) and insert resistance. (24.) into the lamp circuit,A between terminals (17) and '(19).A If.` this resistance device or regulator (18) be properly designed .and proportioned it may the position indicated be made to remain in in the Fig. I througha With such portions of the 4driving v out further increase in the speed of the car, e and heat generated by the friction of the incense es out .the changes in the output of the genernormal condtions. If under these condi- -tionsthe lamp switch (11) be closed current 'llfowthrough the-lamps or translating devicesin a well known manner, and a fixed resistance may be inserted in the translating circuit to cutdown the current iowing l. therein, if desired, as by manipulation of the, resistance ldevice (21). Now if the Speed of the generator increases, the generf ator current will tend to increase and the torque upon pulley (3) will increase there- Wlth. By proper adjustment of the spring (36) (see Fig. II) when this maximum de- Sued output is reached the shoe will f slip upon the shoe (31) so that further incause no further increase in the crease in the speed of the axle (2) will speed of the generator. Further, the generator outputyvill remain practically constant throughshoes or friction members (-30) and (3l) will be rapidly dissipated by the rotatingl Webs(29) and (32). This is also true of fthe .other form of the driving gear, shown in Fig. III, except that the frictional driving contact ,takes place between shoes (42) and '(59) ,and shoes (47) and (48) and they heat enerated by the friction of such contact is sipated by means of webs (41) and (43)' @a (4e) and (is). while running in this manner if the regulator (18) be designed as vicesstill remain in fes above mentioned the said regulator will remain practically inert, that is, will not respond to the small changes in voltage neceslsary to raise the generator output to its maximum. If, however, the generator shall have s o charged the batteries-that their voltage shall begin to rise appreciably (in some instances this rise will go as high as 25%) then solenoid (54) will raise its core against the action of the spring (57) and `insert the resistance (24) into the lamp or translation. circuit in such manner that the high will not be impressed upon the translating devices which will receive approximately their normal voltage throughout quite Wide 3355 changes in the voltage delivered by the generator. Now if thespeed of the car and .consequently the generator decrease until its voltage be a little below that of the battery (10) .the vswitch (15) will open and cut the generator out of the-circuit and thus prevent back discharge of the battery therethrough and if the lamps or translating" de circuit the voltage will graduall come down to the normal, and 4as the vo tage lowers to the normal the'reguvoltage across the lbattery terminalsv avingthus described my invention what I consider novel, and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as set forth in the follow ing claims.

1. The herein described lighting system comprising a driving device, a driving inem-- ber thereon, a generator, means for connecting the driving member to the generator, and means for connecting the driving member to the driving device for controlling the speed of Ysaid member with reference` to the speed of said device.

y2. The herein"` described lighting system comprising a driving device, a. driving mem ber thereon, a generator, means for connecting the driving device to the generator iii-- cluding mechanism for insuring unidirectional drive of the generator regardiess of the direction of movement of said member, and means for connecting the driving ber to said deviceto control speed of said member with reference to the speed of said device.

3. The herein described lighting comprising a driving device, a driving member thereon, a generator, means for connect`- ing the driving member to `the generator to operate the supplied by said generator and including a battery, means in said circuit dependent upon the battery forcontrolling the circuit,

and means for connecting the driving mem-` controlling respect to same, a translation circuit a" a system embodying 4. The herein described lighting system l comprising a driving device, a driving member thereon, means for4 connecting said device and said member for Acontrolling the speed of said member with reference to the speed of said device, means for connecting said member to the generator including mechanism for insuring unidirectional drive of the' generaton'a' translation circuit supplied by the generator including a hattery, andmeans dependent upon the battery for controlling said circuit.

5. 4The herein described lighting system` comprising a generator, a drive shaft, a pulley'loosely mounted upon said shaft, an nular friction plates carried by the pulley, a hub mounted upon theshat to rotate therewith, a friction plate carried by the hub to engage the first named friction plate, and lresilient means for operating said friction plates in engagement with each other.

6. The herein described lighting system comprising a shaft, a pulley loosely mounted thereon, a friction plate carried by the pulley, friction plates mounted to rotate. with the shaft, resilient means for holding said friction plates in contact With each other, a

generator having an operating shaft, means for connecting the pulley to said operating shaft, a translation circuit supplied by the battery for controlling said circuit.

. 8. The herein described lighting system comprising a drive shaft, a pulley loosely mounted thereon, a friction plate carried by the pulley, a friction plate mounted to ro'- tate With the shaft, resilient means for maintaining said friction plates in engagement,

the generator having an operating shaft, a pair of pulleys mounted on said operating shaftLa belt passing over all of said pulleys, mechanism includlng :reversely arranged :clutches connecting the generator pulle s -With the o erating shaft for insuring uni irectional rive of the generator, a translation circuit connected to the generator and generator and including a battery, and` means in said circuit dependent upon the' including a battery, and means in said circuit dependent upon said battery for'controlling the circuit.

Witnesses:

C. J. STOCKLEY, E. E. A LLBEE.

. JOHN .L. CREVELING. 

